Sausage linking machine



20, 1946- J. J.-PROHASKA I 2,406,163

. SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE.

Filed Sept. 18, 1943 2 sheets-shat 1 INVENTOR 2 v Jamaal P20126813 7 Aug. $0, 1946. J. J. PROHASKA 2,406,163

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE I Filed Sept. 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (1W): mash I. I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE James J'. Prohaska, Chicago, Ill., assign'of' tomdustrial Patents Corporation, Chicago Ill'.=,-. a corporation of Delaware Application September'18, 1943; Serial N's; 562,948

11 Claims;

more particularly to that type of machine wherein a string is tied. around the outside of a stuffed 2'. which Such a mechanism take; is in the patentstoDer'narest et al., No 2,-228',0"75;Jan1i-' ary '7 1941; and No; 2253544; GctObe'r 14-1-94 Thism'a chine'hasbeen foil-11d to operate success:

casing to form the individual links. fully, however, some difli ciilties have l'e'neh- It is an object of this invention to-provide an counteredin-using' these machineswhn they are improved machine for tying a stuffed casin to provided with cuttingmeans for severg the form links. a string suchasare shown in therhenti ried sat It is another object of this invention to provide en'ts: an improved means for severing the string" IAS' taught by Deinarest', the string" severedwrapped around the casing. after being wrappers around a casing 15 naming Another object of this invention isto provide the string taut while a-'s l'i=arp edg'e antes apositive shearing means for severing the string against the tensioned The machine is onafter the tying operation is complete. erative to stretch the -tied strilig talu-t between-the" Another object is to provide an improved knife casing and the tying meansarter the string has and shearing edge construction for as-tring tying and linking machine. 1

Other objects will become apparent from the specification below.

In the drawings:

Figure 1' is an'assembly'view, in perspective; of the type of machine to which the present invention isparticularly adapted;

Figure'Z-is a perspective view of the fi-rst'tyingstation looking from the inlet endo'f 'th ma'ehineshow-11in Figure l; with the present improvement shown in position adjacent the tying ring and with the string carrying tying ring position" tice in' the past to link stuffed sausage casings by pinching a length of the stuffed casing off with the fingers and manually twirling the portion of the casing disposed betweenxthe fingers. This twirling motion causes the casing to be twisted at the-points where it is pinch'ed'bythe fingers and linking is thus accomplished. This operation is repeated at spaced points to complete the linking of the entire casing.

Recently maehines' have been proposed for accomplishing; the linking of stuffed casings and,

in. certain of these machines, astring": is tightly wrapped? around a casingrto pinch the casing downto form the individual links; One. form,

tively shearing the string whicn means -includ been wrapped around the casing, aJ-id the'cutting means is thendnivenagainst the' tensionen stnng- It hasbeen foundthat unless the knii e iisedfor cuttingthe stretched" string. i's hept qiiit'e': sharp; the severing will not he ompleted as -i-ntnd'ed and also, if the string is; nht tensioned properly; than faulty cutting-results Whenever: the: string is-not properly severed} the" machinebecome's-jammed andzrnuch time is lost: in" clear-ingfiit inorder to again set in mbtioli a'proper-tying cycle;

The present invention has been made to pro vid'e' means to: effect a more expeditious-severing action, and it teaches" the use ofimeans-forp'osi I self -sha;rpieningi knife: The me'cha'nism of' this-mvention is operati-ve to sever the"string-regardless of the: tension with. which it i's' dra wri after the comp1etion ofthe tying operationand; thu's all f the'defects of the prior art devices areeliminatedi- As stated above,1the'tyinglinking method causes-* a string to be passed-arounda"'casing a plurality of: times while it is drawn tight; The" shearing means oi the heroin disclosed improvement com prises a fixed. and movable means; the fixed shearing'edge being. placed in-the normal paththe' string :follo'ws .in being. wrapped around the c'as ing hwhiles the movableedge is adapted to be driven across the fixed edge at timeddntervalsin the tyin cycle? tozse'v'er' the string. I Means are also associated withr the ifixed edge to direct the string around one end of' the'fix'ecl edgeiduriiig' the'wrappingfcycle; but are operative to dr'aw -the string :a'cross the fixed edge" just as the kn-ife. is driven through its cuttinglstroker Referring: more I particularly to the drawings} the' combination of the elements f OrmingtIie ma shine to which the "present invention is ad'apteds is seeni intFigiire 1.- In this-machinepthe 's-t'ufi'e'd 'casingsare'ded fro'rn the left 'handlside of the 3 machine through the tying stations to the outlet on the right hand end and the stuffed casing I is initially presented to the infeed conveyor belts I I for delivery through the machine. The stuffed casing is delivered from the conveyor II through the two tying stations l2 and I3, and passes from these stations to the outlet conveyor belt I4. The feed. through the machine is intermittent and the stuffed casing is stopped at the two tying stations, after a predetermined length of easing has been driven through the machine, so that while the casing remains stationary the tying means may be driven to link the casing." Each of the tying stations wraps a string around the casing and each string is then severed, whereupon the feed means becomes energized to carry the casing forwardly a predetermined distance to present the following portion of the casing to the tying means.

The tying means itself is best shown in Figure 2 .and basically it includes a rotating ring I5 which'is adapted to be driven aroundthe casing While it is held stationary, in a generally concentric relation, within the ring. The string Ifi for tying the casing is deliveredthrough suitable guiding and tensioning means and the free the space between the inner surface of the ring and the stuffed casing passing through the ring (see Figure 2), so that When the string is drawn ,taut between the casing and hook II, upon comend of the string is engaged on'the side wall of I the; rotating ring; I5 by hooks I! and I8. The

hooks are driven to engage the string by cam means. operated in timed relation to the movement of the casing through the tying station so that the string is clamped on the ring to be carried around the casing in a sequence which will be more fully described below.

. When the string is engaged by hooks I] and 1 I8 and the ring I5 is rotated, the string is carried'around the casing. Means are provided to cooperate with the ring to measure off a required length of string and when a proper length has been pulled through the delivery means, the

tying is completed by. driving the ring around,

the'casing a plurality of times. Simultaneously with the wrapping of the string around the casing, the string is pulled back by the delivery means to tension it in a manner to draw the casing in so as to form the separation between the individual links.

- After the string has been carried around the casing and; drawn in to provide the ends of each link, thezend of -the string is released from books 3 I! and I8 and these hooks continue on their way i V to engage the string between the casing and the When the hooks again engage the string the ring is driven to draw the string delivery means.

string down from the casing and hold it taut while a knife I9 is driven into engagement with the stretched string to sever it.

. So much of the machine as has already been:

of the string on a shearing edg for cooperation with the knife is best seen in the plan view of anvil 29 (Figure 9) wherein the string is shown laid upon hearing edge 30 during one phase of.

the tying operation. It is there seen that the shearing edge 30 is positioned to cooperate with the cutting edge of knife I9 so that the string is positively engaged between shearing meansv whereby it is severed. The fixed shearing edge 30 i normally disposed toextend somewhat into v pletion of the tying operation, as shown in Figure 8, the shearing edge 30 will be projected across the path the string normally follows in being wrapped around the casingto insure that proper shearing will always take place.

Anvil 29, upon which the shearing edge 30 is formed, is fixedly supported from the base plate 3| of the machine, and it is necessary, during the wrapping of the string around the casing, to provide means for directing the string around one end of the fixed shearing edge which, as stated above, projects across the normal path the string would follow in being wound around the casing. Thus, referring again to Figure 9, cam surface 32 is shown which is preferably formed integral on the anvil, against which the string is engaged as it is carried around by the ring during the tying operation; The string passes over the cam surface 32 to be deflected from its normal path and then .it falls onto the shearing surface 30, as the hooks I! and I8 carry the free end of the string around the lower half of the rings travel. As the hooks pass upwardly and over the top of the casing, the string is first drawn taut and then it slides off of the sloping cam surface 32 and the shearing edge 30, to be.

drawn tight around the casing.

When the winding operation has been com wall of ring I5, is a forwardly'projeoting nosepiece 33 which is adapted to engage and guide the string when it is released from the measuring means, as shown in Figure 4. When the string is slack at this point'in the cycle, it mightv possibly loop itself completely over the anvil so that the tying operation would be interrupted. Nosepiece 33 has been provided, to prevent this from happening. Thenosepiece 33 is also inclined downwardl at an angle from the anvil 29 as is'best shown in Figures 3 to 3 so that as the knife is reciprocated inwardly, it will first engage the nosepiece 33. The knife is lifted by the inclined surface of nose 33, against the tension-of a spring. through which the knife'is fixed to its carrying arm and a tight and exact cooperation between the anvil and knife-edge thus results. knife on the nosepiece guides the knife edge into exact alignment with the shearing edge 30 and positive cutting of the thread is accomplished. It is to be noted that the knife in passing over the nose 33 and the shearing edge 3!! engages each of these surfaces tightly, and a self-sharpening action takes place.

In the preferred form, the knife-edge is provided with an angularly ground cutting edge 34 inclined in a manner to trap the string between the tip 35 of the knife-edge and the shearing edge 30 whereby the string cannot escape from between these two elements during the cutting. As the knife moves forwardly, the string is thrown The bearing of the,

5i into. the corner 3.6 formed. on a yil 2.9;hetween the fixed edge. 3.0; and nose 3; and as .11 m

edge. 34; passes over the shearin edge 1 9.1

relation. with respect tothetyingrings.- 1 While the free end: of the. string. which is engaged in. clamp l1 and I8, as showninliigure is carr fid.

around the. casing. asthering is driven. During rbtationof ring. '5, thesequence of events sh wn in Figures 3.thr.'ough.8 takes place.

A I the casing. comes. to. rest. Within the. string carrying ring I5; of the. tyingstation, the ringheginsto rotate andtheireeyend ist-carriedup wardly from the.positicn shown in Figure 2 to.

the position shown. in. Figure. 3, and a measured amount. of string is drawn. from. the. supply by drawing. the string, around the pin 4.9. slidably. 1

mountedin ring 15. When the proper. length of string has been drawn. out, cammea-ns engage.

the end of an arm carrying pin 48 todrive. the pin. in. flush. with the. face. 01% the strin carrying rin eancl. at. this. point of; the. tying. cycle. (Eigure, 4( thestring. is. ratherlwsely. disposed between.

the. string supply. including the. hold-down. arm 41 andthe clamping .means. I]. and i B carriedby thering.

When. thestring. has been. carried around by the ringitothe furthenposition shown in, Eigure 5., the... string. is. snugly. disposed around the. ps1.

riphery, of the. casing. Asfthe. ring ontinuesits rotation. around. the fixed casing, the string is drawn. tightly. intotheeasing. and, simultane 3;, -down armlis driven u wardly.

sothat the stringis pulledtight. between clamps iland. Land the guid 5. i u fi), te taw the.casin v nw dly to. define.- thet nd 0i; s

As. the. ring continues o. r tate. an the. h9 d-... down; arm. to, lift, the asii' g n QllBfiZQQQQWQ- and. after. sgvfir l windin s the tr n a qundz the, casing, the. ca in will; be rawn. n to,

form shown inFig lll fig .Dur n t ewranpin oizth tir n to r s l the.

s tpasses u derth s a h ii 52 5 iene i e we het in ndi amrs nd lit.

n a es. the. cam u iaiqe .2;- Th e ur ac li s. the. st n sioewises i ht r. an. a e nsi .91. ofthe Shearing d t ne whe he FFiIl ta teun he rwa d id n t t eas n a h n iS...thus,laid over the shearing edge.

After oarryingthe.string over thissurface, the

n ontin es. p r ly s. he P Wa st tthe sin and ard new fth f t h z the. string bein at. f rst loosely looped. around he e m i tf e 3. a d? i r ng e's s' b t asth'floqp is tightened the slope of the cam.

surf eQEZ 'and the shearing edge 30 is such that. the. string we; easily fsns rribqtn t? these: surfaces so .thatit can bedrayyn. onaround the. as as. the clamps. carry the string overv the M .ofthe ca nfsu rface Q that; it, new it. 9. 2 s nerati nw when. the strin looped eyes the twnsurfanes drawn taut, it is caused to filid t, Of o the. two. surfaces.-

the string has. been wound around the. as n seve l. times, as. shown in Fi ur 6, th free nd. o the s rin may be releas d from un... der. c mps. l a d t8; and the strin will then. ema n. in. its. wrap d. posi ion. ar und the case. ng. henau e 0i its. frictional en a ement with th casing. Thereafter, during the continued moves. merit Qf c amps 1: and it! around with. the ring to the. initial-- sta ting position. of the ring, they, are proje ted sothat they will n a e the. strin a a point between the. casing. and. the guide; In Figure 7; the. clamp. H is. shown projected: so.

as to engage the. string which is held taut .be.-.

" string, which has. been. severed from. the. suppl tween the casing and guide 42 by the string. suply. means including hOId-JdQWZI arm 4|. whichis still; held in. its u per position. As theclarnp H; e ages the string, this. clamping. means, is r.e-. turned to. its clamping position and: the. relation, between the movement ct th'eclamp II. with rin 1.5;. toward the forward side of: the. casing andb e. hold-down means itin. returning. to. its. lowered position, isv such that thestring isv held-1 generally. taut. The. knife. hookit drivingthe string. forwardly. from the. positionv shown Eigure 7 to. the position shown in. Figure 8; Qauses. the. string. to. be first. engar-iedv under. hook- La and. then. touen age the. cam surface. to be, lifted around t.he. end;of: theshearingedge .31), and.

assoon as thetaut string is cammed oyerthe. end;

Qf: th.e.,shea -ng ed e; it si hpsintoposition. on the. she ring ed e. 3a

U on th ring havin een clrivento thetposix-s t on sh wn. in. Eiguren, it. is-..stopped anditheknite, a e s recip qeated inwardly. whereby. the string; is. sev red etw en. the shearing edge ilkanda the; kniie-edge 34. a

After the. string has been severed, thewrapped".

n. -.WQ Qlll. d the a ins- The ma means of clamps I! and I8, holds the free end o f; the. string as it falls from the. shearing edge. At

thisstage or. th cycle, the ring 15. ish lq. ta

tionary andthe conyeyors ll and 1.4 are energiae Carri the asi orwardl o Posi io nother; unlinked, portion "of, the. stuffed. casing to in St -t ht "whereupon. e 5 8 i e. peatd. 'Ifhe. ring.infb eginning a cycle. moves; from the position shownfin Figure, 8; upwardly. th on ht'hepo t qnn E ure an n lee; ure3.'

t o be nsnr to n. hat a n fe d s.

cons n 911K111 Ma in ests t. e of the tyingstations l2. and I3. I} machine having a single tying station. could be. constructed or one; having morethan two stations, In each. case, an. anvil and knifein accordancewith. this invention, will. be (adapted toje'ach tying .station.

It; has been. found. in. operating the Demarest; et a1., machine with .the present invention adapt-.

ed to it, that the cutting. action of thelmachine,

onthe. string is greatly improved because. of the r provision, of positiye shearin'g} means and because:

or the use of. afself-sharpejliihg, of the, knife a11- r ns men he-Strin ..,p. .it set r n. ts a h y f: o ra ion an (wh th nit. is; d awn me e. 1 es i h ome h she edge, mp e vet e, s. wa s. aq in n F her. nofalte ationinth Pr o r machine is required;other than the mountingpf,

an anvil adjacent each of the tying stations and. the reshaping of the cutting edge; of the; knife .to

the amt. sea

quence of the tying and severing cycle need not and the nosepiece 33 integral therewith. It is obvious that these pieces may be separately mounted in the machine in a manner to cooperate with the string and kniferespectively and with each other, and that driven carrying means to lift the string around the end of the fixed shearing surface could be substituted for th cam surface 32. Such obvious modifications as these and substitutions of equivalents, are all considered to bewithin the scope of the'following claims.

r I claim: 7 I

1. A string cutting means for a machine for linking a stuffed casing with string deliveredfrom a supply means and having means. for carrying a string around a casing and drawing it tight, said means for carrying the string including clamping means for engaging the string to hold the free end while the string is being wrapped around the casing, said clamping means being operative to then release the free end and engage the string at a point between the supply and the casing, comprising an anvil having a shearing edge projecting across the path the string follows inbeing wrapped around the casing, a cam having a surface to direct the string around the end of the shearing edge during the wrapping step, said shearing edge being positioned to engage the string at a, point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of th string around the casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for operating with said first named-edge to effect severance of the string, and means to drive said movable means over the anvil to drive said second edge against the first named edge after wrapthe free end while the string is being wrapped around the casing; said clamping means being operative to then release the free 'end and engage the string at a point'between the supply and the casing; comprising an anvil having a shearing edge projecting acros the path the string follows in being wrapped around the casing; a cam having a surface to direct the'string around one end of the shearing edge during the wrapping step; a nose projecting forwardly from the shearing edge to prevent the string, when slack, from falling off the other end of the shearing edge during th wrapping of the string around the casing; said shearing edge, being positioned to engage the string at a, point intermediate the casing and the clamping mean when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete; a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for 00- 1 operating with said first named edge to effect completed.

3. A string cutting m ans-for a machine for linkinga stuffed casing with string delivered from edge being positioned to engage the'stringat'a a supply means and having a driven ring means for carrying a string around a'casing anddrawing it tight, means for driving said ring,xsaid casing being disposed concentrically within the ring during the wrapping step, said ring means including clamping means, for engaging th string to hold the free end while the string is'loeingv wrapped around the casing, said clamping means .being operative to then release the free endand' engage thestring at a point betweenthe supply and the casing, comprising an anvil having a shearing edge disposed within the ring between the casing.

and the inner surface'of-the ring, said edgeprojecting across th path the string follows in being wrapped around the casing, a cam having asurface to direct the string around the end of the shearing edge during the wrapping step, said shearing edge being'positioned to. engage the string at a point intermediate the'casingand the clamping means when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for cooperating with said first named edge to effect severance of the string, and means to drive said movable means over the anvil to drive said second edge against the first named edge after wrapping of the string around the casing has been completed.

4. A string-cutting means for a machine for linking a stuffed casing with string delivered from a supply means'and having a driven ring means for carrying a string around a casing and drawing it tight; means for driving said ring; said casing being disposed concentricallywithin the ring during the wrapping step; said ring means including clamping means for engaging the string to hold the free end while the'string is being wrapped around the casing; said clamping means being operative to then release the freeend and engage the string at a point between the supply and the casing; comprisingan' anvil having a shearing edge disposed within the ring between the casing and the inner surface of the ring; said edge projecting across the path the stringfollows in being wrapped around the casing; a cam having a surface to direct the string around one end of the shearing edge during the wrapping step; a nose projecting forwardly from the shearing 'edge to prevent the string, when slack, from falling off the other end of the shearing edge during the wrapping of thestring around the casing; said shearing point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for'cooperating with said first named edge to effect severance of the string, and means to drive said movable said clamping means beingoperative to release the free end of the string after "wrappinghas ing across the path the string follows in being i wrapped around the casing, a cam having a sur- 7 face to direct the string around the end of the shearing edge at each pass of thestring around the casing during the wrapping step, saidshearing edge being disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the :path of the string such that the string maybe easily drawn off of the shearing edge at each pass of the string around the casing, said shearing edge being positioned to engage the string at a point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete, a

the

'6. A string cutting means for a machine for linking a stuffed casing with string delivered from a supply means and having a driven ring means for passing a string around a casing a plurality of times while drawing it tight at each 1:

pass, means for driving said ring, said casing being disposed concentrically within the ring during the wrapping step, said ring means including clamping means for engaging the string to hold the free end while the string is being wrapped around the casing, said clamping means being operative to release the free end of the string after wrapping has been completed and then engage the string at a point between the supply and the casing, comprising an anvil having a shearing edge disposed within the ring between the casing and the inner surface of the ring, said edge projecting across the path the string follows in being wrapped around the casing, a cam having a surface to direct the string around the end of the shearing edge at each pass of the string around the casing during the wrapping step, saidshearing edge being disposed at an angle with respect to the planeof the path f the String such that the string may be easily drawn off of the shearing edge at each pass of the string around the casing, said shearing edge being positioned to engage the string at a point intermediate the casing and the clamping means string follows in being wrapped around the -casing, a cam having a surtace to direct the string when wrapping of the string aroundthe casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for cooperating with said first named edge to effect severance of the string, and means to drive said movable means over the anvil to drive said second edge against the first named edge after wrapping of the string around the casing has been completed,

'7. A string cutting means for a machine for linking a stuffed casing with string delivered from a supply means and having a driven ring means for passing a string around a casing a plurality of times while drawing it tight at each pass, means for driving said ring, said casing being disposed concentrically within the ring during the wrapping step, said ring means including clamping means for engaging the string to hold the free end while the string is being wrapped around the casing, said clamping means being operative to then release the free end of the string after wrapping has been completed and then engage the string at a point between the supply and the casing, comprising an anvil having a shearing edge disposed within the ring between the casing and the inner surface of the ring, said edge projecting across the path the around one end of the shearingedge'at each pass of the string around the casing during the wrapping step, said shearing edge being disposed at an' angle with respect to the plane of the path of the string such that the string may be easily drawn off of the shearing edge at each pass of the string around the casing, a nose projecting forwardly from the shearing edge to prevent the string, when slack, from falling off the other end string around the casing, said shearing edge being positioned to engage the string at a point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for cooperating with said first named edge to effect severance of the string, and means to drive said movable means over the anvil to drive said second edge against the first named edge after wrapping of the string around the casing has been completed. I

8. A string cutting means for a machineyfor linking a stuffed casing with string delivered from a supply means and having a driven ring means for passing a string around a casing a plurality of times while drawing it tight'at each pass, means for driving said ring, said,v casing being disposed concentrically within the ring during the wrapping step, said ring means ineluding clamping means forengaging the string to hold the free end while the stringis being wrapped around the casing, said clamping means being operative to release the free end of the string after wrapping has been completed and then engage the string at a point between the supply and the casing, comprising an anvil disposed within the ring between the casing and the inner surface of the ring, said anvil having a shearing'edge formed thereon which projects across the path the string follows in being wrapped around the casing, said anvil also having a cam surface formed thereon to directthe stringaround-the end of the shearing edge at each pass of the string around the casing during the wrapping step, said shearing edge being disposed ata'n angle with respect to the plane o'f the path of the string such that the string may be easily, drawn off of theshearingedge 'ateach pass of the string around the casing, said shearing edge being positioned to engage the string at a point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of the string linking a stuffed, casing with string delivered string after wrapping has been completed and J 11 thenengage the string at aj point between the supply and the casing, comprising an anvil disgiposedwithinrthe ring between, thecasing and the inner surfacerof the ring, said anvil having a shearingedge formed thereon whichsprojects across the path the string follows in being wrapped'around the casing, said'anvil also'having'a camsurface formed on one'side thereof to direct the string around the end of the shearingedge at each pass of the string around the I casing during the wrapping step, said shearing edge being disposed at an angle with respect to p the plane of the path of the string such that the string maybe easily drawn ofi of the shear- ;ingedge at each pass of the string around the casing, said anvil including a nosepiece integral therewith, said nosepiece extending forwardly from the shearing edge on the side of the anvil ;opposit e to that of the cam surface to prevent the string from falling off .of the shearing edge 1 when it is s1ack,-said shearing edge being positionedto engage the string at a point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for cooperating with said first named edged to eifect severance of the string, and means to drive said movable means over the H anvil to'drive said second edge against the first named edge after wrapping of the string around the casing has been completed.

sitioned to engage thestringat a point inter- I wrapping of ithestring around the casing is:.com-' plete, a movable means having thereon a second v shearing edge for cooperating with said first mediate the casing and the clamping means when named edge to effect severance of, the string, said nose being adapted to engage-said movable means adjacent its shearing edge to guide it over the other shearing edge, and means to drive said movable means over the anvil to drive said'second edge against the first named edge after wrapping 10. A string cutting means for a machine for I linking a stuffed casing with string delivered from a supply means and having means for carrying a string around a casing and drawing it tight, said means for carrying the string including clamping means for engaging the string to hold the free end while the string is being wrapped around the casing, said clamping means around the casing, said shearing edge being poof the string around the casing been pleted; Y

11 .A string cutting means for a machine for linking a stuffed casingwith string delivered from a supply means and 'having means for carrying a string around a casing vandfldrawing' it tight, j said means forcarrying-the string including clamping means for engaging the string to hold the free end while the string is being wrapped around the casing, said clamping means being 7 operative to'then release the free end and engage the string at a point between the supply and the casing, comprising an anvil-having a shearing edge projecting across the path the string follows 7 inbeing wrapped around the casing, a cam havinga surface to direct the string around one end of the shearing edge during the wrapping step,

a-noseextending forwardly from said shearing edge and fixed thereto to prevent the string from falling off the other side of said edge when the string is slack during the wrapping of the string around the casing, said shearing edge being positioned to engage-thestring at a point intermediate the casing and the clamping means when wrapping of the string around the casing is complete, a movable means having thereon a second shearing edge for cooperating with said first namededge to efiect severance of the string, said second shearing edge being disposed atan angle withr'espeot to said first shearing edge so that the movable shearing edge .will progressively cross the fixed edge from one side toward the other side whereby the string disposed on the fixed edgewill tend'to be driven laterally across said .first edge toward the base of the nose element whereby :the stringwill be held on said first/edge by the movable edge until it is severed by the movable edge. a

- a 7 JA ES J. PROHASKA. 

